Category: News

During the Inter-areas weekend, with over 90 Juniors present from 14 out of 18 clubs from across Scotland and Juniors aged from 10 – 18 years old – it was the perfect opportunity to hear from our Juniors. 

We asked them what would keep them engaged in orienteering. The answer: we need to make orienteering more social for Juniors. 

Judy Bell and Suzanne were delighted to read this personal testament from a Karena of ESOC a recent learner on the Coaching Foundation course. The tutor team developed the online version of the course over lockdown and, needless to say, we are delighted with the positive reaction from Karena and many others.

Coaching Foundation

I have almost completed the orienteering coaching foundation course which has kindly been sponsored by the club. The course consists of three, hour and a half, evening sessions, delivered virtually, and a face-to-face practical session.

After the success of the last series of online planners’ workshops, we are happy to announce that these will be repeated albeit in a slightly different format. Junior planners workshops will be repeated in the Spring.

This time we are running a linked series of workshops for those who are starting out on their planning career.  It is expected that learners will attend all the workshops and there will be a planning exercise to complete between each workshop which you will get a chance to reflect on with your trainer and other learners. You will require access to either Condes or Purple Pen on a computer (tablets / phones are unsuitable for this).

We would to introduce you to Heidi Ross who has joined the SOA Staff team as our new Development Officer. We are delighted to have Heidi on board as we seek to progress our areas of development in line with our strategy. Heidi comes to us with experience of being Aberdeen University Orienteering Club President and a level 1 coach. She has recently relocated to Edinburgh joining ESOC having completed her Masters in Aberdeen.

Come join our team and help us truly capitalise on the unique opportunity that hosting the World Orienteering Championships in Edinburgh in 2024 presents. We are looking for a self-motivated professional to lead on a 6month scoping project to create a project plan which outlines what could be accomplished and reflects the aspirations of the sport in creating an exciting development plan linked to WOC 2024. Join us as our WOC2024 Project Manager!

The VHI races this year will take place in Wales on the weekend of 1st and 2nd of October. We are excited to announce those selected to represent Scotland at the event. Thank you to the team selectors, congratulations to those selected and good luck in October!

Although schools are back now and summer seems a long time ago it was a summer of firsts for us. We worked with new partners supporting the delivery of non-residential summer camps and trained up new young leaders, giving them their first taste delivering orienteering sessions.

Following the event at Grandtully on Sunday, held as part of the Junior Inter-areas competition hosted by the West area, the 2022 Scottish Inter- Club Championship league table has been updated. The updated table can be viewed via this link Scottish Inter-Club Championship Table – 04/09/22 .

After 23 events so far, Forth Valley Orienteering Club (FVO) have overcome Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club’s (ESOC) previous lead to top the Large Clubs division but ESOC are not far behind.  With an increased number of events in the north area for the remainder of the year can MAROC,  MOR or INVOC use weight of numbers to climb up the table and challenge FVO and ESOC?

In the Small Clubs division Roxburgh Reivers (RR) currently retain their lead but Tayside Orienteers (TAY),  St Andrew’s Orienteering Club(Glasgow)  (STAG) and East Lothian Orienteers (ELO) are chasing close behind. 

FVO and ELO continue to lead the Junior Inter-Clubs.

With new events having being added to the calendar, the opportunities for clubs to gain points have increased.  The remaining dates are listed below:-

18/09/22 Muirton (Perth) SOUL 8 TAY 

24/09/22 Elgin SOUL 9 MOR 

25/09/22 Anagach SOL 4 INVOC 

02/10/22 Crathes Regional GRAMP 

08/10/22 Loch Vaa Regional INT 

09/10/22 Creag Dubh SOL 5 BASOC 

15/10/22 Stirling City Race (SOUL 10) FVO 

23/10/22 Galloway SOL 6 AYROC 

29/10/22 Tinto Twin Night Race ESOC 

30/10/22 Tinto Twin Day Race ESOC 

30/10/22 Carse of Ardersier Regional INVOC 

06/11/22 Scottish Score Championships STAG 

12/11/22 ESOA Championships, Teviothead RR 

13/11/22 Devilla Regional KFO 

13/11/22 MAROC Regional MAROC 

20/11/22 Deans (Livingston) SOUL 11 INT 

26/11/22 Haddington SOUL 12 ELO 

27/11/22 Saltoun Big Wood SoSOL ELO 

12/12/22 Balmedie Regional GRAMP

We are delighted to announce the Scottish teams for the Junior Inter Regional Competition (JIRCs) and the Junior Home Internationals (JHIs). The teams have been selected taking into account availability and to provide as many juniors as possible with the opportunity to race whilst also sending strong teams to both events.

The Junior Inter Regionals (JIRCs) will see Scotland compete against teams from all 12 British Orienteering Regions. They will be held in Northern Ireland on the weekend on 24/25 September.

The SOUL series restarts after its summer hiatus, with the next events in Perth and Elgin later in September.  Entries are open for both.

The headline news is that we’re now back to thirteen events in the series.  Having lost one event early one due to ‘permissions’, a replacement for it has been recently added.  Accordingly, the series will revert to being being the best seven scores for all senior classes. although the junior classes will remain best six scores.